First Girls High School marching band performs at Taitung hot air balloon festival opening

The 16th Taitung International Hot Air Balloon Festival kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony at Luye Highland, drawing tens of thousands of attendees from across Taiwan. A highlight of the event was the first-ever performance by the First Girls High School (Bei Yi Nu) marching band, celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an was among the distinguished guests. He participated in a hot air balloon ride aboard the "Green Giant" with Taitung County Magistrate Rao Qing-ling. Mayor Chiang emphasized the strong partnership between Taipei and Taitung, noting Taipei's efforts to promote Taitung's produce, particularly the pineapple custard apple, which he likened to "TSMC of fruits."

Chiang announced Taipei's purchase of 2,000 boxes of pineapple custard apples to support local farmers. He also encouraged Taipei citizens to visit Taitung and promoted an upcoming fireworks event in Taipei's Dadaocheng area. The mayor's balloon ride lasted approximately 30 minutes, landing smoothly on a truck, and he appeared to be in good spirits.

The festival boasts 40 balloons from 17 participating countries, with 20 balloons on display at the site. Attendees gathered before dawn, and the Bei Yi Nu marching band began their preparations at 1 AM. Local businesses reported a significant increase in visitor numbers compared to last year, expressing hope that this will translate into increased sales.

Mayor Chiang also made a point to visit "Bear Happy" (Xiong Zan), a popular mascot "fostered" in Taitung, adding a touch of local charm to his visit. The event aims to invigorate tourism and showcase Taitung's agricultural products.